GLENDALE, Ariz. – Islanders boss Mike Milbury joined his team here after the GM meetings in Las Vegas and was in attendance Friday night when Rick DiPietro recorded his second assist of the year in the 5-2 win against the Coyotes. A few more inches to the left, and DiPietro would have scored his first goal of the year on that empty-net play.

But according to several prospective rules changes tossed around between Milbury and the 29 other GMs in the league last week, that sort of play may soon become extinct. In addition to goalie equipment being shrunk considerably, new rules may also prohibit goaltenders from playing pucks behind their net.

“I was certainly conflicted over the issue,” Milbury told The Post.

Interestingly, Milbury said he was one of at least 20 GMs that voted for the elimination of goalies playing the puck, even after drafting DiPietro first overall in 2000 in the hope that the youngster might revolutionize that skill.

“I would never have drafted Rick DiPietro if I didn’t think he was going to be an outstanding goaltender, apart from the puck-handling skills,” Milbury said. “If you just handled the puck, shot it out, and you can’t stop the puck, you’re no good to anybody.

“When you’re voting on these changes, and I happened to be on that sub-committee . . . you can’t start thinking about your own personnel. You have to be a little bigger than that and think about the effect on the game.”

Milbury explained that it wouldn’t be just one change that improves speed, flow and offensive creativity. Instead, the combination of tag-up offsides, giving shooters more net to look at past smaller goalie padding, and prohibiting controlled breakouts will speed things up and cut down the number of stoppages and trap-friendly situations. In turn, scoring would go up and the league would have a more marketable product.

“I honestly believe that they’ll all become a reality,” Milbury said. “I just think the combination of rules changes – I don’t think it’s just one, it’s the totality of them – that will make the difference.”

Other ideas that are being considered to increase scoring – and add up to more than a square foot of additional net to shoot at – is eliminating the “cheater” cuff on goalie blockers, giving them form-fitting jerseys that diminish the volume of upper body padding and prohibiting the cloak-like effect of oversized sweaters.

As for DiPietro, scoring a goal may not happen after these ideas become NHL laws, “but maybe my goals-against would be better, though,” he said.

Memo to Rick: It’s not likely anyone’s goals-against will be better – which is exactly what the NHL wants.